Fish Wish List

[SeanCallan]

Alright, after some minor delays it looks like the tank will be ready this weekend. I'm going to pick up my sand and LR friday and store it in a brute trash can till the tank plumbing is complete.

 

I already know which corals I'd like to keep but I haven't been able to nail down a list of fish. Heres my attempt, I'd really appreciate input from others as to whether or not I may be overloading the tank or selecting fish least suited for this environment.

 

Quick tank info:

80g cube

approx. ~5000 GPH

Tunze 9010 skimmer

 

5 Anthias of either: Ignitus Anthias, Bartlett's, or Carberryi

1 Yashia White Ray Shrimp Goby w/ Shrimp

 

Those are the fish I really would like to keep if possible, but there are a few others I'm toying with but definitely not settled on.

 

If I decide to stock a single RBTA I would be interested in 2 Ocellaris Clownfish. My concern with them is the amount of flow I have and if it was necessary I may be able to create a slight 'dead zone' in the flow to facilitate them.

 

I've always found Copperbanded butterflies to be amazing fish, I know they're picky eaters, but how do they handle flow?

 

Recommendations? Concerns? I know I could keep other fish but I don't want to overcrowd the tank nor do I want to put fish into an environment they're not ideally suited for.

[dshnarw]

Your stocklist seems fine to me. The clowns would be fine with the flow - no reason to create a deadspot. They'll settle in where they're comfortable, although no guarantees that they actually host. Remember that the bta will choose its location, no matter what you decide, so even attempting to create specific flow for the fishes is a practice of futility - their home will go where it wants anyway. Further, if you check out videos of reef crests, you'll find that the flow in your tank, although fairly brisk, is really nothing compared to the wild.

 

CBB would also be fine in the flow.

 

Concerns are that anthias tend to be a pain in captivity - females turn to males even in harems. You may find that they start fighting, and you'll want to be ready to take out anthias that make the gender switch over time. I also have the same concern about the CBB feeding - especially difficult to find healthy fish initially.

 

 

dont forget to update the tank thread with the progress.

[SeanCallan]

Your stocklist seems fine to me. The clowns would be fine with the flow - no reason to create a deadspot. They'll settle in where they're comfortable, although no guarantees that they actually host. Remember that the bta will choose its location, no matter what you decide, so even attempting to create specific flow for the fishes is a practice of futility - their home will go where it wants anyway. Further, if you check out videos of reef crests, you'll find that the flow in your tank, although fairly brisk, is really nothing compared to the wild.

 

CBB would also be fine in the flow.

 

Concerns are that anthias tend to be a pain in captivity - females turn to males even in harems. You may find that they start fighting, and you'll want to be ready to take out anthias that make the gender switch over time. I also have the same concern about the CBB feeding - especially difficult to find healthy fish initially.

dont forget to update the tank thread with the progress.

 

I know Pristine Aquariums has a CBB and the young lady there told me it was eating and she would gladly feed it for me. But at the time I wasn't seriously considering any fish.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the Anthias, I was aware that they change gender if there is no male, I was not aware that they may change and fight.

 

I'm wondering if the RBTA should be the first thing I introduce so it will find it's home without floating around and hitting any corals I have in the tank. Once they have a location, how often do they decide to relocate?

 

Trust me, I'm too excited to NOT update my build thread. I'll get some pictures this weekend when things start to come together. Right now I just have a pile of stuff on the floor.

Edited November 12, 2008 by SeanCallan

[WDLV]

Anthias need to be fed frequently and like a lot of swimming room. I just don't think I'd put them in a tank with that small of a footprint.

The goby and shrimp sounds like a cool idea.

If you can, get a captive raised RBTA. I think Flowerseller propagates them frequently. You might check with him. Once it settles, don't ever change your flow pattern. That means changing the rockwork too. Otherwise they will wander into the intake of whatever pumps you have.

The CBB is a great addition and usually will eat live brine shrimp and black worms as a first food. Mysis is good too but may not be a first food. Oh, and mine did great with a 53 times per hour tank flow turnover. Most tanks are nowhere near that.

Edited November 12, 2008 by WDLV

[zygote2k]

In that size of tank, you might do better with cardinals or chromis rather than anthias.

[gmubeach]

Anomies might be sentsative to a new tank enviroment at the same time they stung alot of my sps anyway mine will never stay still it loves to move under my rock work... if you can iscolate it with rock that would be a better way, anyway mine has doubled in size since I got it very happy with it...the only corals that it seems to leave alone are the lps hammers/torch and the zoos what are you planning on adding to the tank coral wise?

[SeanCallan]

In that size of tank, you might do better with cardinals or chromis rather than anthias.

 

I really guess there are a million opinions in this hobby and they've got me confused. I tried this thread once before in the early planning stages and unanimously I was told to take anthias over cardinals because of the flow.

 

I really want to school some fish. Has anyone seen those salt water tetras, I don't know a name, but I'll find a photo?

[L8 2 RISE]

IMO, and this is just from a sidelines view because I haven't gotten my big tank up yet, cardinals make the best choice for a school fish. Anthias will hang out, but not seriously "school", this is just what I've seen in others tanks. Also, one thing you might want to think about is a "centerpiece", I love tanks that have a "bang" fish that draws all the attention to itself with the other fish just adding to the color of the tank. A nice angel is really good at this.....

 

just my as always

[SeanCallan]

IMO, and this is just from a sidelines view because I haven't gotten my big tank up yet, cardinals make the best choice for a school fish. Anthias will hang out, but not seriously "school", this is just what I've seen in others tanks. Also, one thing you might want to think about is a "centerpiece", I love tanks that have a "bang" fish that draws all the attention to itself with the other fish just adding to the color of the tank. A nice angel is really good at this.....

 

just my as always

 

Yeah, I know what you mean about a "bang" fish, I just can't think of something that would really go. I wasn't sure angels were SPS friendly (I've never kept one) and tangs are too big and need more room to get around.

 

Recommendations?

 

Would Orange Lined Cardinalfish be suitable as a schooling fish? I've read that they're "slow" and that they enjoy caves and overhangs, but does that mean they'll spend the majority if there time just kind of hiding away?

 

I'm pretty looking for a fish that's going to be out in the open getting their swim on.

[amos]

Yeah, I know what you mean about a "bang" fish, I just can't think of something that would really go. I wasn't sure angels were SPS friendly (I've never kept one) and tangs are too big and need more room to get around.

 

Recommendations?

 

 

If you want a reef-safe angel, the Genicanthus family has some options: Lamarks, bellus, swallowtail. I've never had any personal experience keeping these, but did a fair amount of research as I was considering them at one time.

 

Jon